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Rapture of the Church, When, Part 3

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy, Rapture with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 27, 2014 by paulthepoke

The church is told consistently in the New Testament it is not appointed for wrath. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 …and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

Jesus Himself said the Gates of Hell will not have victory of the Church. Matthew 16:18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. But, Hell will have victory over the Tribulation saints. Revelation 13:7 It was also given to him (Antichrist/Beast) to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. This group of believers in Revelation 13 is not the church. The church is already in Heaven in Revelation 4. I have no doubt there will be an “OH $#!T” moment for those left behind when the rapture occurs. A lot of people will come to believe in God and His word at this event. I take it these are the tribulation saints and believers in Revelation 13.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. The group of people being addressed in this letter is believers in Christ in the church. Believers are not destined for wrath as compared to the group of people who are not believers. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. Nonbelievers are subjected to destruction. There is no escape.

Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The Greek word for condemnation is katakrima (a damnatory sentence per Strong’s Concordance). The letter is written to the church, the body of Christ, in Rome.

God has a history of removing His people before executing judgment.

The first global judgment of the flood provides a pattern. God announces judgment is coming to all. Enoch was removed from the earth before the flood (Genesis 5). The world was judged. God’s chosen people were preserved in Noah’s ark.

Approximately 13% of the Bible talks about the seven year tribulation. The rapture of the church removes believers in Christ from judgment. The world is judged in seven years. God preserves His chosen people Israel.

Lot and his daughters were removed from Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction. God made it clear to Abraham He would not destroy the two cities if even one righteous person was there (Genesis 18-19). God cannot change His character. He would not execute judgment on a world with one righteous, believing person. But with the rapture, righteous people have been removed. The path has been cleared and He would not violate His principle.

Jesus has already died for sin once and for all. Did He not do a complete job on the cross? As believers in Christ, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. The church is covered by God (Father, Son, and Spirit). 1 John 4:17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

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Rapture of the Bride of Christ, When, Part 2

Posted in Gospel, Isaiah, Prophecy, Rapture with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 21, 2014 by paulthepoke

When looking at the course of an Ancient Jewish wedding, Jesus is following cultural custom. A Jewish man has to make an offer to purchase or buy his bride to be. Jesus has met this obligation with Acts 28:20b …to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Gifts are usually offered from the groom to the bride. In the case of the church, we receive the gift of eternal life from the groom. Romans 6:23b …but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The marriage involved the drawing up and the acceptance of a legal contract called a ketubah. During the betrothal or the promise of the coming marriage, it is the groom’s duty to prepare a home for his pending bride. John 14:2-3 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” According to Jewish custom, the Father of the groom decides when the house is ready. The Father sets the wedding date. He tells his son when it is time to go get his bride. A Jewish groom goes and gets his bride, an event of a Jewish wedding ceremony. The rapture of the church is when Jesus comes and takes His bride. Ephesians 5:22-33 Draws parallels between Christ (husband) and the church (bride/wife). Jesus’ relationship to the church is as a husband is to a wife. Specifically, Ephesians 5:32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

There is more to the wedding in regards to bride’s response and the ceremony itself. The context and focus are how the rapture fits into the wedding. Jewish cultural information provided by The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times, God’s Final Jubilee by Dan Goodwin, Our Father Abraham Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith by Marvin R. Wilson, The Truth Behind Left Behind by Mark Hitchcock and Thomas Ice.

Jesus is speaking in Revelation 3:10 and states “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” It is members of the church who receive crowns. We give them back to Jesus. The crowns are on the heads of the elders. They are wearing white, purified and cleansed robes in Heaven (not on Earth) in Revelation 4 before start of the tribulation. Later in Chapter 4 of Revelation, the crowns are thrown before the throne in Heaven, not on Earth. These events take place in Heaven before the Tribulation. How did the church get into Heaven before the Tribulation? Rapture. All hell breaks loose on Earth with the Tribulation starting in Revelation 6. The church is absent in the Revelation 6-18 text during all of the destruction on Earth.

Jesus is taking His bride out of harm’s way. The church is safe in Heaven’s bridal chamber preparing for a wedding. Isaiah 26:20-21 Come, my people, enter into your rooms and close your doors behind you; hide for a little while until indignation runs its course. For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; and the earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer cover her slain. The previous context of these verses in Isaiah is the resurrection of the dead…

Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

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Rapture of the Church, When, Part 1

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy, Rapture with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 13, 2014 by paulthepoke

There are primarily three perspectives in regards to the time when the rapture of the church occurs. The first is called a Pre Tribulation Rapture (rapture before). The second is called a Mid Tribulation Rapture (rapture in the middle). And the third is a Post Tribulation Rapture (rapture after). These three perspectives are hotly contested, debated, and divisive. The discussion of “when” this event takes place has no bearing on one’s salvation. People who hold to any of these positions believe that Christ died for sins, resurrected…Heaven bound. All three positions are members of the body of Christ. A pastor I know has made a common sense statement. “Good men can respectfully disagree.”

I will be up front. I hold to a Pre Tribulation Rapture position. This is the conclusion I have come to after reading and re reading the text over a period of 20 plus years. I am not telling anybody what to think. I am not telling anybody they are wrong. Dogmatism in opinion solves nothing. Because somebody stomps their foot harder and yells louder does not result in a change of mind and thinking.

Be a Berean. Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Do not take my word or anybody else’s word. Search, read, study. There is too much at stake, your eternal future.

What is the church? The Greek word for “church” is ekklesia. Per Strong’s Concordance it is translated or defined as: a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly; an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting; those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body; the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth; the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven.

Colossians 1:18 He (Jesus) is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Ephesians 5:22-33 Draws parallels between Christ (husband) and the church (bride/wife). He is the savior of the body. He gave Himself for us. We, as believers, are members of His body. He washes and cleanses us with His word. He takes care of us. We are to submit to Christ.

The Tribulation is a seven year period of Divine judgment on the people of planet earth because of our sin. It is a matter of simple justice. Approximately 13% of the Bible is written about this seven year period. If the data points of time in the Bible are taken literally in terms of ages of people and reigns of leaders, the earth is roughly 6,000 years old. This seven year period represents .0005 of history (3.5/6000). Approximately 13% of the Bible focuses on .05% of history! Two chapters in Genesis were dedicated to Noah’s flood. Humanity is being given disproportionate, ample, and considerable warning. Matthew 24:21-22 “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” –Jesus.

Would the ultimate expression of Husband allow His bride to be beaten and bruised by His Father’s judgment and wrath? Would that be “just” to allow the church to be effectively judged twice? Our sins as believers were paid on the cross. Do we need to pay again during the Tribulation?

Romans 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all…

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Rapture Part 4, Old Testament Clues

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy, Rapture with tags , , , , , , , , on July 7, 2014 by paulthepoke

John 14:2-3 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

In this passage, Jesus is talking with His disciples. Some translate “dwelling places” as “mansions”. Bottom line, Jesus is building a really nice place in Heaven. We know where He is now (July 2014). He is at the right hand of the Father in Heaven (Mark 16:19, Acts 2:33, 1 Peter 3:22). Then He states He will come again to get others. Since He is in Heaven, He will return to “receive” or paralambano (original Greek word). Per Strong’s Concordance, it means: to take or join with one’s self. The grammar indicates this is a future event that is certain to happen. He will certainly take people to join Him in Heaven. Note, there is no mention of His physical return to Earth. This is an event where He gathers people to meet Him in Heaven.

Now why would Jesus take people away from Earth? What purpose does that serve? The Old Testament has answers…

Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; For the righteous man is taken away from evil, he enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walked in his upright way.

The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart… A just and lawful man dies or ‘abad in the original Hebrew. The word ‘abad can also mean perish, exterminated, or destroyed per Strong’s Concordance. The response from the culture, “Who cares”.

and devout men are taken away, while no one understands…These men are taken away or ‘acaph in the original Hebrew. The word ‘acaph can also mean: collect, to gather (an individual into company of others), to bring up the rear, to gather and take away, remove, withdraw. These men did not die. They have been gathered into a group and taken away. They are withdrawn and removed from bad and evil. The response from the culture is a lack of understanding or discernment.

For the righteous man is taken away from evil, he enters into peace… God’s people, dead or alive, are removed from bad and evil. Their destination is “shalom” not “sheol” or the grave, which is the place for the dead. Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace. Strong’s Concordance defines shalom as: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, safety, health, prosperity, quiet, tranquility, contentment, friendship of human relationships, and friendship with God especially in covenant relationship.

This stuff is in the Old Testament! It has always been there. It is consistent with the message in the New Testament.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

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Rapture Part 3, Elijah

Posted in Prophecy, Rapture with tags , , , , , , , , , on June 29, 2014 by paulthepoke

2 Kings 2:11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.

Elisha was not the only witness to this event. 2 Kings 2:7 Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. The text says there were at least 51 others at the event site.

Elijah and Elisha knew God was coming to get Elijah. This is documented and noted frequently in 2 Kings 2:1-11. Members of the prophetic guild or school in Bethel (2 Kings 2:3) and Jericho (2 Kings 2:5) were aware that God was coming to take Elijah. Hundreds of people knew Elijah was going to be taken into Heaven.

Things are no different today in 2014. There has been notification for over 1,900 years. People are aware there is a time coming when those who believe in Christ will be taken into the clouds to meet the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

So whatever became of Enoch and Elijah? God took them both into Heaven. They did not die. Scripture says we all die once. Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment…

Two witnesses show up on the scene in Revelation 11:3 “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” Scholars debate the identity of these two witnesses. Elijah is promised to come again before the tribulation. Malachi 4:5 Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. Many agree one of these witnesses is Elijah. Others debate the identity of the second as either Enoch or Moses. Enoch was taken alive by God in Genesis 5:24. Moses died and was personally buried by God in Deuteronomy 34:6. Draw your own conclusions as to who the second witness is. These two witnesses die at the hand of the beast in Revelation 11:7. Three and a half days later, the witnesses are resurrected back to life for people to see. Then, they are called from and ascend into Heaven (Revelation 11:11-12).

Elijah’s resume: Rapture, return, death, resurrection, and ascension…That is quite an experience through time.

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Rapture Part 2, Enoch

Posted in Prophecy, Rapture with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on June 22, 2014 by paulthepoke

To the critic who says, “There is no such thing as a ‘rapture’.” Sorry, that is incorrect. For the very first ‘rapture’, go all the way back to the Book of Genesis. This event takes place before the flood of Noah. Genesis 5:21- 24 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters.So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Becoming a father clearly resulted in a changed attitude for Enoch. At that point, the Hebrew grammar suggests Enoch responded to God and “walked with Him”. The name Enoch means “dedicate” per Strong’s Concordance. Enoch dedicated himself to God. Jewish tradition states Enoch was a preacher.

The meaning of the name of Methuselah is a bit of a mystery. Here are a couple of possibilities. One is “man of the dart” per Strong’s Concordance. A second is “when he is dead it shall be sent” per Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names. The issue is the root of the name. Is it “mut” (death) or “mat” (man) in the original Hebrew?

Did Enoch know judgment was coming from God? Something caused Enoch to rethink his attitude. The ages of the people documented in Genesis as time points would suggest the flood began when Methuselah died. Methuselah lived the longest of any man, 969 years (Genesis 5:27). God allowed the greatest amount of time for humanity to repent of their actions before judgment came. But, when the time came He acted swiftly and decisively with a global flood.

Note, Enoch was not around during the course of the flood. He was taken off of the earth before the world wide judgment of God came. He was spared and did not have to go through the tribulation of that time.

… for God took him. The meaning of “took” in Hebrew is “laqach”. Strong’s Concordance defines the word as: to take, take in the hand, carry along, carry away, take away, or to fetch.

Another definition is to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, or accept. The concept of taking in marriage is noted in the Hebrew Old Testament word “laqach” and the Greek New Testament word “harpazo”. Language of a marriage is noted with Christ and His bride the Church throughout the New Testament. Terms for rapture in the Old Testament and the New Testament center around marriage and a groom taking or snatching his bride.

Enoch was not a Jew or citizen of the country Israel. Nations were not in existence before the flood. Is Enoch a type or foreshadowing of the rapture of the bride of Christ, the church? Is there a group of people who will be taken away before a worldwide judgment of God?

Some may say Enoch is just an Old Testament story and fable. The story of Genesis is confirmed in Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

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Rapture, Part 1

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy, Rapture with tags , , , , , , , , , on June 15, 2014 by paulthepoke

To the critic who says the word “rapture” is not in the Bible. Critic, you are correct. So where does the word “rapture” come? For the answer, we have to go back to the fourth century. The word comes from the Latin translation of the Bible. The Latin translation is called the Vulgate. St. Jerome was commissioned to translate the Bible into the Latin language (Faith Christian Academy, Fourth Grade History). The word is “rapiemur” per http://www.Vulgate.org, The Latin Vulgate New Testament Bible in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. St. Jerome translated the New Testament from the original Greek.

The original Greek word is “harpazo”. Per Strong’s Concordance it means: to seize, carry off by force, claim for one’s self eagerly, to snatch out or away.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. The Greek word for caught up is “harpazo”. Jesus will seize and claim for Himself eagerly those who believe in Him. Once we are claimed, we are forever with Him. If the security of that verse is not enough…

John 10:28-29 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. This is Jesus talking in these two verses. The word snatch or harpazo is used twice. Once we are taken, we have double coverage. Jesus Himself will securely protect a believer. By the Son’s admission, the Father is greater and He has hold of those who believe as well. We are not going anywhere but with God. Talk about eternal security.

The Father and the Son know to “snatch” the believer because they are sealed with the Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

We have eternal security in the triune God. We are “harpazoed” and property of God.

Can we realistically propel and sustain ourselves into the clouds? Talk about hang time… Are we capable of locating Jesus in the clouds? Over what city? How high is He suspended over the Earth? What time is the meeting?

…Just believe…

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Trend Update, Revived Roman Empire, May 2014

Posted in Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 28, 2014 by paulthepoke

Memorial Day weekend proved to be an interesting time in the Holy Land. The Pope, Francis, visited the Middle East. There are many who think the Pope will be the Anti-Christ. The Roman Empire is being revived, so they say. Many have identified the Pope as the Anti-Christ. I would also encourage everyone to remember the Roman Empire had an eastern leg which included modern day Turkey, Iraq, and Syria.

The Pope had an interesting trip. He called for interfaith toleration and unity between the Muslims and the Jewish people. He visited the Muslim Dome on the Temple Mount and the Jewish Western Wall. He endorsed dividing the land and acknowledging a Palestinian state. With all due to respect to the pontiff, I would encourage him to read the Book of Joel. God says, “Do not divide My land.” This is not a good idea and not in accordance with God’s will.

The Pope has requested a peace meeting or summit next month (June 2014) at the Vatican between the Muslims and the Jews. I expect the Pope or somebody to invoke Father Abraham as a bridge to peace at some point in the future.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming…

Scripture tells us the Anti-Christ will NOT be revealed until the resurrection of the dead believers in Christ and the living believers in Christ are raptured into the clouds to meet Jesus. There is a lot of debate about the word “apostasy”. It is the word apostasia in the Greek. The word is transliterated. It can mean the following in the original Greek: a falling away, defection, or apostasy. The word is used one other time in the New Testament.

The key to the passage is noted later in these verses with the restrainer. Many take this “restrainer” to be the Holy Spirit who is indwelled in Christians. The restrainer will be removed when Christians are snatched into the clouds at the rapture by Jesus. Then, the Anti-Christ will be revealed and present himself to the world.

This passage also notes there will be a Jewish Temple. The Anti-Christ will present himself as being God in the temple. Currently, there is no Jewish Temple. But if we wake up one morning and there has been an agreement to rebuild the Temple…

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Tribulation Martyrs

Posted in Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , on May 26, 2013 by paulthepoke

Revelation 6:9-11 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. 

Revelation 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

The context of these verses is the seven year tribulation. We are not in the tribulation. I am not suggesting these events taking place in today’s world (May 2013) are the tribulation. As I write, there is no world dictator. There is no single person demanding worship as God. People are not walking around with marks on their forehead or hand in order to engage in commerce.

These two sets of verses popped into my mind when I heard the news from London. The event I am referring is the soldier murdered in the street by two extremists. The soldier was hit by a car and then violently murdered with a machete and butcher’s knife.

Pope Francis recently recognized 15th Century Christians who were beheaded as martyrs because they refused to convert to Islam. There is recent history of Christians beheaded in Iraq. Western soldiers have met this fate when captured in hostile territories. The point being, this is trend is emerging in the news of our world.

The Bible is clear in what it states. There will come a time in the future when violent deaths and beheading of people who believe that Jesus is the Son of God will increase significantly. The translations are not confusing.

Look at these two words in the Greek. From Revelation 6:9, the word “slain” is sphazo. According to Strong’s Concordance it means to slay, slaughter, butcher, to put to death by violence, mortally wounded.

From Revelation 20:4, the word “beheaded” is pelekizo. It means to cut off with an axe, to behead.

Violence will increase and trend as the tribulation draws closer. But, there is good news.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:57 …but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who believe in Christ will miss the Tribulation, so it says…read it for yourself.

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Jesus Post Resurrection Resume

Posted in Gospel with tags , , , , , , , on May 10, 2012 by paulthepoke

Key Theme: Jesus is coming again. The career of Jesus following His resurrection: rapture, wrath, return, and reign.

Rapture: Jesus comes for His church. He is the head of the church (Matthew 16:18). For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

The term rapture is from the Latin translation of the Bible. The Greek word is harpazo. It means to snatch, seize, or take away by force. At this point, the dead in Christ will be resurrected. The dead will be raised imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:52).

The second part of the rapture event is those who are alive will be changed in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). This is new information revealed by Paul, a mystery (1 Corinthians 15:51a). We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them (resurrected dead) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Wrath:  The tribulation will begin with a covenant or treaty of seven years between the false messiah and Israel. He will break his promise at the half way point of the covenant (Daniel 9:27). The seven year period is broken into a series of judgments in the book of Revelation. The initial series is contained in the seal judgments of Chapter 6. After a brief pause, the seventh seal is noted at the beginning of Chapter 8. The seventh seal contains seven trumpet judgments. The first six judgments are initiated in Revelation 8:7 and continue through 9:21. The seventh trumpet is sounded in Revelation 11:15-19. The initiation of the bowl judgments occurs in Revelation 16. These events lead up to the return of Jesus.

Return: Acts 1:11b, “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” There are over 300 references in the New Testament alone regarding the second coming of Christ. His return is chronicled in Revelation 19. The beast and false prophet are seized and thrown into the lake of fire. Satan is bound by chain in the abyss and has his own personal guard.

Rule and Reign: It is mentioned six times in Revelation 20:2-7 that the period of the earthly kingdom is 1,000 years. References in Daniel 2:44-45, 7:27 indicate that this kingdom will not be overcome and it is everlasting. Jesus will rule as king of the world (Daniel 7:14, Revelation 19:15). The church will rule and reign with Christ as kings and priests (Revelation 1:6, 5:10).  Characteristics include joy, justice, peace, no more war, holiness, glory, comfort, full knowledge, instruction, removal of the curse, no sickness, healing, protection, freedom from oppression, no immaturity, plenty of work, prosperity, increase of light, one language, unified worship, fullness of Spirit (Things to Come, Pentecost, pp. 487-490, scripture and verse noted for textual support).

At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be released to deceive the nations. He gathers the people of the nations for war against Christ in Jerusalem. They are consumed by fire and Satan is thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10).

Next is the judgment of the great white throne. This is the judgment of the dead who are judged according to their deeds. If one’s name is not found in the book of life, they are thrown into the lake of fire with death and Hades (Revelation 20:11-15).

Eternity: The new heavens and the new earth emerge. The old heavens and old earth have been burned. New Jerusalem descends from heaven. It is described with 12 different jewels. The size is great. There is no darkness. The water of life is there with the trees of life. The Father and the Son are present with man. Their reign is forever and ever (Revelation 21 and 22).

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